Nearly three decades have passed since the debate began about a series of symptoms that have come to be known as chronic fatigue syndrome. its cause is still unknown, but over the years, researchers have identified various brain, immune system and energy metabolism irregularities involved. some patients describe the syndrome as feeling like an “unrelenting, unremitting flu.”

Doctors say some treatments can help. Arthur Barsky, a psychiatrist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and a professor at Harvard Medical School, says patients need to change how they experience symptoms — typically pain, insomnia and anxiety. when patients adopt a more positive attitude, Barsky points out, it often translates into greater confidence and more energy.

A study published this year in the Lancet found that a form of talk therapy, as well as exercise, offered relief for some patients. Researchers from the United Kingdom looked at cognitive behavior therapy, or CBT.

In the study, over 600 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were assigned to different treatments. All of them received medical care for symptoms like pain, insomnia or anxiety.

One group got counseled about how to pace activities. Another took part in an exercise program. And a third received the cognitive behavioral talk therapy. the therapy and the exercise group improved the most, reporting less fatigue, insomnia and anxiety.

Barsky says his patients do best when cognitive behavior therapy is also combined with gradually increased exercise. “People need to begin to push themselves in the face of their fatigue, because if you don’t, you become deconditioned and you get caught in a cycle which … makes fatigue worse,” says Barsky.

But he cautions against overdoing it. People should start with mild, gentle exercise like clearing the table, doing the dishes, or taking the dog for a short walk. Then, slowly build up to longer and more frequent walks, he says.

Lucinda Bateman is a doctor at the Fatigue Consultation Clinic in Salt Lake City who specializes in chronic fatigue syndrome.

She’s skeptical about the Lancet study, pointing out that patients improved only moderately, and not much more than those who were counseled about pacing themselves. Bateman suggests her patients pace themselves, and try to do only as many activities as they can manage.

She says some patients get caught in a “push and crash” cycle. when symptoms abate and they feel better, they may go all out, exercising, doing errands and socializing. but soon that level of activity often comes to a crashing end and patients can relapse dramatically, even becoming bedridden for several days or longer.

Bateman takes also issue with CBT’s implication that chronic fatigue syndrome is psychosomatic. we still don’t know what exactly causes the syndrome. And, like most professionals who treat patients, Bateman eagerly awaits the day when science can finally pinpoint its cause.

With additional reporting from Joanne Silberner

Do you suffer from extreme fatigue or adrenal fatigue? if you are prone to any sort of real fatigue you might just actually have a condition termed chronic fatigue syndrome. Almost all of the time the chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms are very similarly to regular fatigue, thus it is often hard to diagnose properly and treat. however if you are aware about the chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms you can certainly bring it up to a medical expert for assessment.

Extreme fatigue, have you ever experienced it, is kind of like what you might seem like if you hadn’t slept for several days. The only significant difference being is that you really had slept and for that reason your tiredness or fatigue is generally unexplainable. Extreme fatigue can be a main symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome and something that should be taken extremely seriously. Extreme fatigue may be a great indicator that something is extremely off physiologically in the body which should be looked into as soon as possible. Luckily for most people extreme fatigue may be easily fixed with a proper diet and light exercise however , if this doesn’t help in lowering the signs or symptoms further testing of hormones could be required.

Another great symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome might be adrenal fatigue that has caused some fracas within the medical community. Although recently coined, many physicians and doctors have not yet come on board and in actual fact recognize adrenal fatigue let alone consider it part of chronic fatigue syndrome. it is easy to determine how they are related however due to their strikingly very similar effects on the human body. As with any new medical terminology, it could take quite some time for the medical community for getting agreeable with adrenal fatigue. When it comes down to stress and deficiency in energy two or three days occasionally may not be an indicator that you’ve got chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. if nevertheless , you are experiencing extreme fatigue or adrenal fatigue regularly consistently it certainly might be time for you to seek specialized medical advice. Make sure that you attempt first to deal with your diet plan, exercise and stress to find out whether you can resolve these issues yourself. if everything else fails you need to get your chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms checked at your earliest convenience.

I have seen my doc and he agrees it isn't depression, but I am so exhausted. I hurt all over and just can't do the easiest stuff. even breathing takes to much energy

You'd better see a doc who cares. You cold have a variety of medical conditions. are you overweight? do you exercise and get adequate sleep? are you stressed out? You might have chronic fatigue syndrome. keep asking a doctor until you find out!

I had the same symtoms that you have and my doctor diagnosed me with FIBROMYALGA ! Ask your doctor about it and good luck!!

Question by country girl 006: How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosed? I am exhausted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am getting ready?to have a sleep apnea test done. I have been on sleeping pills prescribed to me by the doctor, but they don’t help at all. I am seriously sleep deprived! I am up at 12:00, I look at the clock and it’s 3:00, then I look again and it’s 5:30 AM, so I may as well just stay up. I don’t know how much longer I can take this. I am so tired, I feel like I could just “drop” at any moment. But, then again, when I have the chance to sleep, I can’t do it. someone out there – help me!!! like I said before, I am trying to have this diagnosed, but I would like some people’s opinions or suggestions. thanks!They have done blood work. Thyroid is perfect, cholesterol (both) is perfect, but I have iron deficiency and am anemic, too. I am on pills for that. I was in a car accident 2 1/2 years ago, had back surgery and complications from that. I was diagnosed with RSD, where my legs and feet are swollen to five times their normal size. I have a pain pump implanted and get morphine pumped into my spine. I have to walk with a walker to get around. I have to stay in bed most of the time, because of all the pain, but I am so dam* tired! Life is not good for me right now. I am on SSDI and am a single parent, trying to put 2 boys through college. How much more can a person take. Now that I think about it, a lot of this is probably stress, but I take an antidepressant, too. so you see, my life is pretty complicated. nothing easy here! But, I still need some sleep!!!!!!!!!!

Best answer:

Answer by Gary SChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder that causes extreme fatigue. this fatigue is not the kind of tired feeling that goes away after you rest. Instead, it lasts a long time and limits your ability to do ordinary daily activities.

Symptoms of CFS include fatigue for 6 months or more and experiencing other problems such as muscle pain, memory problems, headaches, pain in multiple joints, sleep problems, sore throat and tender lymph nodes. since other illnesses can cause similar symptoms, CFS is hard to diagnose.

No one knows what causes CFS. It is most common in women in their 40s and 50s, but anyone can have it. It can last for years. there is no cure for CFS, so the goal of treatment is to improve symptoms. Medicines may treat pain, sleep disorders and other problems.Diagnosing CFS requires ruling out other causes of chronic persistent fatigue, including a stressful lifestyle, cancer, or other illness such as adrenal or thyroid disorders, HIV, or AIDS. since there are no laboratory tests that specifically make the diagnosis of CFS, the diagnosis is based on symptoms. People with CFS experience the following symptoms:

* Fatigue: People with CFS have long-term fatigue (lasting longer than 6 months to a year) that cannot be explained by other diseases. People with CFS may have had a previous infection. They are tired and “run down” during the infection, and the fatigue continues after the person has recovered from the illness.

* Cognitive difficulties: A typical complaint of people with CFS is that they have problems with short-term memory but not long-term memory. People with CFS may have problems finding or saying a particular word during normal speech (called dysnomia or verbal dyslexia).

* Postexertional fatigue: Postexertional fatigue may also be a problem for people with CFS. They are excessively tired after doing normal activities that were not difficult in the past.

* Fatigue after sleep: People with CFS also complain of fatigue even after long periods of rest or sleep. They do not feel refreshed after sleeping.

* Depression: People with CFS may become depressed because of difficulties performing at work or home, but depression does not cause CFS.

* other symptoms that may be seen include headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, and even mild fever.there is no single test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome. The disease is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that all other conditions and illnesses that cause the symptoms are ruled out. CFS may be diagnosed based on the following:

* Certain signs and symptoms must be present. (People without cognitive dysfunction do not have CFS.)

* some nonspecific laboratory tests, such as blood tests and tests of the immune system, suggest the diagnosis.

Laboratory tests are used to rule out other fatigue-causing diseases. Also, some laboratory abnormalities are seen in CFS and support the diagnosis.

Your doctor may perform the following tests:

* Tests to exclude other causes of fatigue: Thyroid, adrenal, and liver function tests are useful to rule out disorders that may cause fatigue. in people with CFS, the results of these tests should be normal.

* Blood tests: The most consistent laboratory abnormality in people with chronic fatigue syndrome is an extremely low erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, the measurement of settling red blood cells in anticoagulated [non-clotting] blood). If the ESR is elevated or even in the high-normal range, another diagnosis is likely. If any other abnormalities are found on blood tests, your doctor may rule out CFS and begin testing for another condition.

* Antibody tests: Your doctor may order antibody tests to determine whether you have had a prior infection, such as Lyme disease, Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia, or Epstein-Barr virus.

Your doctor may perform the following imaging studies:

* CT scans or an MRI of the brain is useful to rule out other disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Results of CT scans and MRI are normal in people with CFS.

* Single-photon emission computed tomography and/or positron emission tomography scans show decreased blood flow in areas of the brain (the frontoparietal/temporal region). this decreased blood flow explains the cognitive difficulties (short-term memory problems) in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes intense exhaustion that sleep or rest cannot relieve. those who suffer from CFS find that symptoms worsen with mental or physical activity, and that they function at lower than normal activity levels. more than 1 million Americans suffer from CFS, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control (2010).

Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms tend to be non-specific, mimicking other medical conditions. The most prevalent symptom of CFS is exhaustion. Other symptoms include:

• Impaired memory function
• Insomnia
• Muscle pain
• Post-exertional fatigue
• Weakness.

Other chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms vary. some people report joint pain, night sweats, sensitivity to light, panic attacks, dizziness and stiffness as CFS symptoms.

Less than refreshing sleep and insomnia are two symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. If you are experiencing signs of CFS, your doctor may ask you about your sleep habits. She may also advise you to take steps to improve your sleep, such as avoiding or limiting daytime naps, reducing caffeine intake, adhering to a regular sleep schedule, or engaging in moderate exercise a few hours before going to bed. In some cases, you may be prescribed a sleep aid to help with your sleep problems.

Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms can overlap with a number of other medical conditions, including sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. your doctor will rule out these other conditions as a possible cause of your symptoms before diagnosing CFS.

Diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome is difficult, as no specific laboratory tests clearly indicate its presence. due to the vague nature of chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms many cases go undiagnosed.

Doctors make a CFS diagnosis by ruling out other illnesses. In order to be diagnosed with CFS, a person must experience at least four of the following symptoms, simultaneously, for a period of six months or more:

Difficulty concentrating and memory problemsExhaustionMultiple-joint pain (without swelling or redness) Muscle pain Odd headaches (new in terms of pain and pattern) Sore throat Tender lymph nodes Unsatisfying sleep.

Chronic fatigue syndrome affects people of all ages and both genders. The Centers for Disease Control (2010) reports that CFS is four times more common in woman than men, and often strikes individuals in their 40s and 50s.

While there isn’t a definite cause of chronic fatigue syndrome, some think it might be related to an immune dysfunction, infection or problems with the nervous system. Researchers are also studying possible genetic links of CFS and are considering environmental contributors.

No cure for CFS exists. Chronic fatigue syndrome treatment relieves symptoms, improves functioning and encourages helpful lifestyle changes. Recovery rates vary from person to person.

Chronic fatigue syndrome treatment plans may include cognitive-behavioral therapy and alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Gentle stretching, low-intensity exercise and physical therapy may help overcome chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.

Medical chronic fatigue syndrome treatment is limited. Pain and sleep medication are used to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.

As early treatment plans seem to make a big difference in the fight to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome, a timely CFS diagnosis is very important. Possible chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms should be reported to a doctor.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Retrieved September 20, 2010, from cdc.gov/cfs/general/index.html.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2009). Chronic fatigue syndrome. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/DS00395.

Office of Research on Women’s Health. (n.d.). Chronic fatigue syndrome. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from orwh.od.nih.gov/cfs.html.

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Im on a bunch of pills that put me down all night and all day, only problem is, I live like the walking dead. is there something I can ask the dr for that might help with the energy problems? Ive been told by psychiatrists I shud not drink caffeine because it enhances my anxiety.

1] without knowing the underlying conditions that prompted the prescribing of all those pills it would be very hard to say.
2] Fatigue could be a side effect of one or more of the pills. Read the product insert !!!
3] you should discuss this with your doctor. call and leave a message.
4] Get checked for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
5] if you have trouble sleeping, zaleplon [brand name Sonata] is great.

There are many drugs that can do that. I personally try to avoid the pills and exercise it helps a lot. if your case with with they pills you are taking you need to have this conversation with your doctor.

Chronic fatigue syndrome can be a devastating medical condition.

Theories abound as to the cause, including chronic viral and bacterial infections, weakened immune system, endocrine abnormalities and even psychosocial connections (it’s all in your head). The exact number of Americans affected by CFS is unknown, but there are estimates of between three and 3,000 cases of CFS per 100,000 people in the U.S., which translates to 3,000 to 3 million people affected.

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Although the exact cause has not been determined, there is ample evidence that CFS may be related to another chronic medical condition involving the bowel, leaky gut syndrome.

CFS usually starts after flu-like illness or a period of chronic stress. It is generally defined as having at least four of the following symptoms: profound exhaustion after exercise, impaired memory/concentration, unrefreshing sleep, muscle/joint pain, headaches, tender lymph nodes and recurring sore throat without obvious infection.

CFS patients often have symptoms of irritable bowel (in my experience 100 percent), new onset food allergies and chemical sensitivities, and low blood pressure with dizziness when standing up too quickly. No medications seem to be effective and the success of many nontraditional medicine therapies is limited. CFS shares many symptoms with chronic infections, but a causal association with viral infections and Lyme disease is inconsistent. However, the symptoms of CFS do closely mimic the common symptoms of leaky gut syndrome.

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where the bowel literally becomes “leaky” and toxins can be introduced into the blood stream in high concentrations. these toxins often come from bacteria and yeast and can affect many organ systems. LGS is related to chronic poor food selection, medications especially antibiotics and stress.

It is related to a condition called bacterial dysbiosis, where “bad” bacteria colonize the bowel and, in some cases, can result in life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms of LGS include fatigue, muscle and joint pain, insomnia, headaches, changes in memory and irritable bowel symptoms.

In a recent medical publication (BMC Medicine, 2010), the correlation between CFS and chronic inflammation associated with LGS was examined. This paper explored the research on CFS and concluded that a chronic inflammatory state may be one of the foundation stones of CFS. They also suggested that a “leaky” gut would be a likely source for the regular introduction of pro-inflammatory and toxic compounds into the body. these compounds can damage DNA and inhibit energy production resulting in fatigue, muscle weakness and pain, and changes in memory and cognition.

Many of these pro-inflammatory and toxic compounds may be related to many of the symptoms of both CFS and LGS. Therefore, a reasonable argument can be made that the root cause of CFS may originate in the bowels.

Although there are no specific tests for CFS, LGS can be measured by a simple urine test. Treatment for LGS focuses on select supplements, food choices and other simple lifestyle changes. In my personal experience, many people with CFS can get significantly better with lifestyle changes including improving bowel function.

• Patrick B. Massey, M.D., Ph.D is medical director for complementary and alternative medicine for the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disease the symptoms of which are severe fatigue that does not get better with bed rest and may deteriorate with bodily or intellectual activity. The Center for Disease Control has done studies on the subject and has published that there are approximately one to four million Americans who have this disorder. Generally about forty percent of the people who describe their symptoms as chronic fatigue syndrome have a serious but previously unrecognized medical condition. It is treatable.

Sometimes CFS develops after an infection, a cold or a viral disease, or after a period of heavy stress. Sometimes it just appears and gradually worsens, with no apparent cause or beginning. People who have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) feel like they have the flu. However, people who have flu get well in a few days or weeks. CFS lasts much longer. The symptoms can come and go. there is no pattern.

Women are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome far more of ten than men are. CFS is a flu-like condition that can drain your energy and sometimes last for years.

Current medical practice is to assume the disease is psychological – that is, it’s all in your head. a patient is given psychological counseling and sometimes physical therapy and exercise specialists are brought in. Sometimes a sleep therapist or dietitian is recommended. But these are just band-aids to allow the patient to “live with” the disease. Nothing is apparently available to relieve the misery and actually make the patient well.

At Angel Longevity Medical Center in Los Angeles, the doctors and staff are aware that the fatigue, pain, discomfort and depression felt by patients who have CFS are not “all in your head.” These do have an underlying cause and Angel Longevity Medical Center has the technology and treatments that can help identify and treat this disease. they not only treat the disease but also reverse the condition by increasing your energy and vitality.

Fibromyalgia also falls in the category of mysterious diseases when addressed by the conventional medical community. both CFS and fibromyalgia are greatly affected by what the person eats. in every case saturated fats and refined vegetable oils will increase the pain and refined carbohydrates will worsen the condition. Slow burning carbs rich in fiber will increase energy and omega-3 fatty acids in fish and flaxseed oil will alleviate pain.

A patient at Angel Longevity Medical Center will also be evaluated for food allergies, which are often overlooked but are a frequent cause of fatigue and pain. Many patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome suffer from depression. they also tend to have low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a crucial role in regulating mood. in addition to contributing to depression, low levels of serotonin can cause the sensation of pain to be greatly heightened.

At the Angel Longevity Medical Center natural supplements are used that will boost serotonin levels, improve mood, and relieve pain. St. John’s wort, SAMe and 5-HTP are far safer than Prozac and other prescription anti-depressants and are backed by solid research, not to mention the positive experiences of patients. Don’t suffer from CFS – get relief.

Want to find out more about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, then visit the Angel Longevity Medical Center site for your needs.